So what’s the deal with Jamberry Nails? Are you missing out on the perfect mani that will last you 2 weeks without a single chip or touch-up? I’ve made two videos showcasing the BEST, EASIEST and FASTEST methods to apply and remove Jamberry nails. Plus read all about why you can have fashion at your fingertips too.

My day starts early. Every morning my alarm goes off at 6am and for the next 16 hours, chaos ensues. By the end of the day, I would look in the mirror and look so haggard. My eye shadow had completely creased into my eye lid, my eyeliner was smudged, and my mascara was flaking off. I looked like crap! I had to find a way to get my eye make up to last so that I still looked refreshed by the end of the day. Here is my new beauty routine:

I had so much fun doing my last YouTube hair video that I wanted to make another one! It’s been a big learning curve but I’ve enjoyed learning yet another new platform. So today I’m showing a new, quick tutorial on how to create 4 different styles with a side dutch french braid.

This week I’m sharing my first video hair tutorial! I was way out of my comfort zone in creating a YouTube video but I always find tutorials way easier to follow when you can see the flow from beginning to end.

I LOVE the Pull Through Side French Braid. I always hear people saying that they want the dutch braid hairstyle but they don’t know how to French braid. So here is your answer: this is the cheater version that yields the same look withOUT having to braid.

THE BEST BOLD LIPSTICK COLOURS

“Be bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold.” -Herbert Spencer

I used to be a little bit of a lipstick snob. I love bold colours but I would only buy the expensive department store brands because the colours were always so rich looking. But, I have to say that in the past year, “drug store” make-up lines like Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel, Covergirl and L’Oreal have really stepped up and made some beautiful, affordable colours that look anything but cheap.

The number one question that I get asked on Instagram, is “What lip colour are you wearing?”. So I figured it was time to round up my favourites and share them with you.

1. You need lip liner to make that perfect, pouty lip. The great thing about lip liner is that you if you buy a couple different ones (one red, one pink, one berry) then you can match them to those colour spectrums. They don’t need to be exact!

2. Choose matte! If you want colour that pops and lasts, then choose one from a matte collection. It’s easy to layer on gloss overtop if you want that wet look.

3. Own it!!! So many people tell me that they purchased a lip colour that looked great in the store but then they got it home and thought it looked terrible on them. A little secret: it doesn’t!!! You have to have the confidence to wear it! Try this: Wear the new colour for ONE day. Choose a weekend when you are staying home or doing errands. If you aren’t used to wearing lipstick then it can be a big change. Get used to looking in the mirror with it on. By the end of the day, then decide whether it can stay or go.

To help you grab some great shades, I’ve made a handy list for you:

Maybelline ColorBlur

My new favourite!!! The ColorBlur allows you to add a lot or a little colour with the use of it’s blending tip. The colours are vibrant and bold. Shades to try: Partner in Crimson (red), Fast and Fuchsia (pink, worn in photo), Plum Please (berry, worn in photo above). Although they have so many fabulous colours, you can’t really go wrong here.

Revlon Color Burst

Love these matte colours from Revlon. They have a hint of vanilla/mint scent and they are so easy to apply. Shades to try: Elusive (pink), (poppy red, worn in photo), Fiery (new, plum).

Hard Candy All Matted Up

A new line from Hard Candy. This red and pink matte colour is beautiful! Unfortunately, this is the only good colour that they offer in the line but it’s a great price and worth buying.

How to Make an ITALIAN “SPRITZ” Drink

If you are dreaming of Italy but won’t be getting there
anytime soon, try one of their signature beverages this summer. When my husband and I were vacationing there
last week, this bright orange drink seemed to be
enjoyed by locals and tourists at every cafe, bar and restaurant we passed. On our second day in Venice, we pointed it out to our waitress and she promptly called it a “Spritz”. And you know the
cliché “When in Rome…” (or Venice, right!?) so we ordered two and gave it a
whirl.

We were soon hooked on this delicious and refreshing
beverage. I’d never tasted anything like
it in Canada before, so while in Siena, we commissioned our bartender to show us
how to make it and what ingredients we would need. Needless to say we did fill one suitcase full
of wine, lemoncello and Aperol for the journey home. The good news for you is that all these
ingredients can be purchased in North America too!

Aperol – An Italian Aperitif that was a sweet tangerine
taste with hints of bitter spices.

Soda Water – good ol’ carbonated water.

Fill your white wine glass half-full with ice. Add 3 ounces of Prosecco, then 2 ounces of
Aperol. Top with 1 ounce of soda
water. Garnish with an orange slice and
green olive! The ratio is always 3:2:1 so you can use that to make a smaller or larger drink!

Salute!

Kiki

Watch for upcoming blog posts on “How to do 10 days in Italy” and “Cinque Terre: The Italian Riviera” !

DIY: Distressed Denim

My first attempt at an official Do It Yourself today! If you check back a couple posts, you will read about my love for
distressed denim. The thing is: some
people have a hard time shelling out money for jeans that are, well, destroyed. So I came up with a solution for you: make
your own! I dug into the back of my
closet and found a pair of old Abercrombie jeans. Instead of adding them to the clothing
donation pile, I turned them into a pair that I will wear again and again this
season. Here is how you can do the same!

Materials Needed to distress your denim:

Jeans

Chalk

Scisssors or a box cutter

Piece of wood

Step 1: Using a piece of chalk (all I could find was
sidewalk chalk in my house!), draw a rough design of where you would like the
add holes and rips. I like putting a
hole on the back pocket and the front pocket too. This is where YOU can decide how distressed you
want your jeans to be. Some people like
a little, some people like a lot! Try
them on and double check you like them before the next step.

Step 2: Place the piece of wood into the pant leg you want
to distress. This will give you good
support and make it easier slice through the fabric. It also prevents you going through to the
back of the pant!

Step 3: Using a box cutter will give you an easy, clean looking cut. If you use scissors you will have to continuously run the blade over the fabric until holes start to appear. Do not use the scissors to cut the fabric. I liked the look of using the scissors better, although it takes longer. Try some different techniques, the denim looks great when you don’t cut all the way through (see photo).

Step 4: After doing the same to the other side of the pant,
step back and see if you need to add any more.
This is where I added some smaller distressing in a few places or over
top of my “cleaner” looking cuts.

Step 5: Wash AND dry your jeans. This helps fray the fabric. Your jeans
will look more distressed every subsequent time you wash them. If they start getting too frayed, you can always
use a garment bag and hang them to dry.

Voila! You’ve turned your once drab jeans into fab jeans again!

Now for the rest of the look: (this was a tough one because I chose some styles that are from last season)